Friday, November 23, 2012

TSA 2012 Holiday Travel Tips & News

We’re
once again coming up on the busiest travel time of the year. I can’t believe
it’s here already. I know I say that every year, but it seems like it gets here
faster every year! TSA is fully staffed and prepared for the high volume of
passengers this holiday season. We have coordinated staffing and are committed
to processing passengers as safely and efficiently as possible. Passengers can
make their experience better by coming prepared and arriving early.

As I’ve
done the last several years, I’ve put a list of travel tips, news, and helpful
links together to make your holiday travel a little easier.

Risk
Based Expedited Screening:
TSA has implemented TSA
Pre✓™,
anexpedited prescreening initiative for known travelers, active
duty service members and airline crewmembers at select airports, and
modified procedures for screening passengers 12 and under
and 75
and older to reduce, although not eliminate, the need for a pat-down. TSA
Pre✓™ is currently available in 32
airports and will be in 35
airports by the end of the year.

TSA
Contact Center:
The Contact Center hours were recently extended and a representative is now
available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. Eastern time; weekends and federal
holidays, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Eastern time. The TCC can be reached at 866-289-9673.
Passengers can also reach out to the TSA
Contact Center (TCC) with questions about TSA procedures, upcoming travel
or to provide feedback or voice concerns. Unfortunately, we can’t assist with
questions related to preparing a turkey or any other delicious holiday staples.

TSA
Cares Helpline:
Travelers or families of passengers with disabilities and medical conditions
may call the TSA
Cares helpline toll free 855-787-2227, 72 hours prior to traveling with any
questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the
security checkpoint. A TSA Cares helpline representative is available during
all TSA Contact Center hours.

The
MyTSA App: Want
TSA information anywhere, anytime? Use the MyTSA app. Among the great features, there’s a “Can I
Bring My…” tool. Want to know if you can pack a turducken or a light saber?
This is the tool for you. Type in the name of the item you’re curious about and
it tells you if the item is permitted or not, along with packing tips. This
isn’t a Magic 8 Ball, so please don’t expect it to prophetically answer yes and
no questions. A wait time feature is also available. It relies on crowd sourcing, which
means the more people who use it, the better.

Expanded
Use of Canines:
To further enhance explosive detection screening, TSA is expanding its use of canine
teams and deploying them throughout the airport environment, including the
security checkpoint. These teams are trained to detect trace amounts of
explosives that are present in the air.

Wrapped
gifts are allowed, but not encouraged:Wrapped
gifts are allowed, but we recommend waiting until you land.If
there’s something in the gift that needs to be inspected, we may have to open
it. Our officers try their best not to mangle the gift wrap, but it’s not a
guarantee and it also slows down the line for everybody else when we have to do
this. We’d rather unwrap the gifts that are under our trees.

3-1-1 (Liquids, Gels & Aerosols): If you’re checking a bag, make
things simple by packing liquids in your checked luggage. That way, you don’t
have to worry about the 3-1-1 liquids rules. (If you’re concerned about
them leaking, do what I do and put them in a zip-top bag.) But I know that
doesn’t work for everyone if you’re only bringing a carry-on bag. If you
have to take liquids in your carry-on, please continue reading… 3-1-1 is a
quick way to remember how our liquids policy works. You
can read here for more details, but here is the gist: each passenger is
allowed to take as many 3.4 ounce or less sized containers that will fit
in one sealed clear quart-sized zip-top bag – and one bag per
person. Make sure you take the zip-top bag out of your carry-on
prior to sending it through the X-ray.

Beverages: Wine, liquor, beer, and all of
your favorite beverages are permitted in your checked baggage. You can
also bring beverages packaged in 3.4 oz or less bottles in your carry-on
bags in the 3-1-1 baggie. Eggnogcan be an alternate to fuel depending
on who’s mixing it. Sometimes there’s a fine line between a beverage and
hazmat. Just sayin’…

Makeup:
Any liquid
makeup cosmetics such as eyeliner, nail polish, liquid foundation, etc. should
be placed in the baggie. That goes for perfume as well. Powder makeup is fine.

Some
Snow Globes are Permitted Now: TSA
now allows small snow globes in carry-on luggage when packed in a passenger's
plastic 3-1-1 bag. Snow globes that appear to contain less than 3.4 ounces
(approximately tennis-ball size) will be permitted if the entire snow globe,
including the base, is able to fit in the same one clear, plastic, quart-sized,
re-sealable bag as a passenger’s other liquids.

Double
Check Your Bag for Guns: Seriously!!!It sounds silly, but if you read our Week in Review
posts, you’ll see that our officers find guns every day at checkpoints in the
U.S. A good percentage of those are loaded. Save yourself the hassle of a
bag check, a police interview and a potential arrest by making sure you leave
your gun at home.

Pat-downs
& Body Scanners: A
very small percentage of passengers receive pat-downs. To reduce the need for a
pat-down, the most important thing you can do is take everything out of your
pockets before screening. You can put these items in your carry-on bag. Don't
wear clothes with a high metal content, and put heavy jewelry on after you go
through security. You will also receive a pat-down if you choose to opt out of
our Advanced Imaging Technology (Body Scanners). Check out this post to read some myths and facts about the
pat-down. If you
have a hidden medical device (insulin pump, ostomy bag, brace, etc.), please
let the officer know.

Shaving Razors: You can get
more info from our blog post on this subject where the pictures will answer
all of your questions.

Forgotten
or Lost IDs: If
you have lost or forgotten your ID, you will still be permitted to fly as long
as you help us verify you are who you say you are by answering a few questions.

Follow
us on Twitter for
travel tips, blog post announcements, and other useful information. You can
find a list of our national and regional twitter accounts here. Also, be sure to
print out this handy travel
checklist prior to packing.

"TSA has implemented TSA Pre✓™, an expedited prescreening initiative for known travelers, active duty service members and airline crewmembers at select airports, and modified procedures for screening passengers 12 and under and 75 and older to reduce, although not eliminate, the need for a pat-down. TSA Pre✓™ is currently available in 32 airports and will be in 35 airports by the end of the year."

Pathetic. This should be the default level of screening for ALL passengers, not the elite few who can pay for it. Shameful and dishonorable as always, TSA!

I have been a good boy all year and not kicked my sister once, not even when she deserved it. Since I have been a good boy I am hoping you can bring me for Christmas My dignity as an individual when travelling by air, my Constitutionally protected Rights while in the airport and everywhere else too, and a pony.

Can you post some tips for travelling with an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitors (CGM)? Most pump manufacturers say not to go through the body scanners because the scanners can damage the pumps and CGM's. The metal detectors are safe though. However, having to involuntarily opt out of the body scanners leads to an invasive, full body patdown.

Is there any way to be screened in a different way? I don't have a problem with the scanners, but I can't go through them with my pump and the pump can't go through the baggage x-ray. I'm tired of having my "resistance" fondled. You may call it resistance, but I know what you are touching and only my wife or doctor should be touching those areas. Can medical opt outs like this be allowed through the metal detectors and have the pump swabbed for explosives? There has to be a better way.

The TSA can sing holiday songs in airport terminals from Thanksgiving through Christmas. It doesn't excuse the fact that you will virtually strip search and inappropriately touch thousands of law-abiding Americans in violation of basic human dignity this holiday season.

Given the repeated sordid news stories involving the TSA in 2012, I suggest you update your holiday post to give Americans some asssurance that their holiday travel experience will NOT be ruined by the TSA.

Perhaps reminding people Security Checks go much easier when the authority figure is treated with dignity and respect. They perform a valuable service to all passengers that is often unvalued by the very ones whose lives depend on the screener's capability. As the holiday travel season quickly approaches--perhaps a Public Service Announcement reminding people of this very fact may change the atmosphere in all travel arenas.

"The machines, so-called backscatter machines that use X-rays to scan passengers, produce near-naked images of travelers. The TSA said that software that was supposed to replace the near-naked image on the machine with a stick figure was flawed and couldn't be used to ease privacy concerns."

Bob, I seem to clearly you and other TSA Spokespeople (Nico for one) telling the public how these Strip Search Machines only produced a fuzzy chalk like outline of peoples bodies. Yet TSA required the images to be viewed behind closed doors so it was clear something wasn't right.

Also, don't think all of the Backscatter X-Ray Strip Search Machines have been removed from airports. NO, TSA has lots of them installed around the country.

The safest course of action is to always Opt Out of all TSA screening that use Electronic Strip Search Machines.

None of these devices have been tested for safety except on the public in our airports.

Hi! I just came back from a trip to Palm Springs CA. I was full body scanned and patted down because I was wearing a zipper front sweater. I think you should let people know they should not wear zippers on their sweaters, or take them off before walking through. They will be patted down even if they walked through the full body scan. I am not a fan of the full body scan...fyi.

I just returned from a trip to Palm Springs CA. I was full body scanned and patted down for wearing a front zippered sweater. I think you should warn people not to wear a front zip sweater or have them place in the scanner bins. Not a fan of full body scanners, and I was patted down anyway...

The TSA seems to think that if they repeat something over and over, people will start to believe it. I figure if I keep asking a question over and over, the TSA might eventually answer it. We're probably both wrong, but here it goes anyway...

Can you cite any studies that demonstrate any sort of correlation between information PreCheck collects and the risk of a person having terrorist intentions?

Everything I ever read about the de-funded Total Information Awareness program (later called Terrorist Information Awareness) said that no good correlations were ever found. That's not surprising. Since there are very, very few terrorists. Statistically, it would be extremely difficult to find any sort of correlation.

What information could PreCheck candidates possibly reveal about themselves that would demonstrate that they are less risk than the non-PreCheck passenger?

With all the talk about risk-based approaches, I'd like to see some evidence that there's actually some risk-based analysis going on.

Remember folks: it's permissible to take an entire frozen turkey as your carry-on baggage (assuming it meets size restrictions). But gravy is still verboten!

Also: gel inserts for your shoes are now permitted, but a bottle of hand sanitizer is a threat to national security!

If the TSA had a modicum of humility-- just a bit of self-awareness and shame-- it would admit that its rules are completely made-up.

If liquids really WERE a threat to security, there wouldn't be exceptions for contact lens solution or gel inserts. Those exceptions only exist for convenience, and they would present a real security risk if liquids really were a threat.

But the TSA won't admit that. Instead, as public awareness of the gaping holes in their logic increases, they make more and more exceptions, all the while maintaining that NOTHING HAS CHANGED, and that their absurd, made-up rules based on movie-plot threats are vital to protecting us when we travel.

Want to prove me wrong, Bobby? Find me ONE example of the TSA admitting that one of its rules or measures has been ineffective. They've completely discontinued the use of the "sniffers"-- after scientific studies showed them to be completely useless-- but the TSA still hasn't admitted that they were wrong to waste taxpayer money on them.

Anonymous said...Perhaps reminding people Security Checks go much easier when the authority figure is treated with dignity and respect. They perform a valuable service to all passengers that is often unvalued by the very ones whose lives depend on the screener's capability. As the holiday travel season quickly approaches--perhaps a Public Service Announcement reminding people of this very fact may change the atmosphere in all travel arenas.

November 16, 2012 9:05 AM

.................

I treat people with respect if they show similar treatment to me. TSA employees tried to steal from me, one at DFW I thought was about to strick me and complaints to TSA went unanswered.

"I've seen some chatter and conspiracy theories as to why I moved this post to the top."

I haven't. The last post that you approved is from November 18th. In any case, I certainly wouldn't allege a conspiracy. I would say that we have a single government employee who did something remarkably stupid by pointlessly picking a fight with a blogger and is now trying to minimize the impact of his error.

"It's the holiday travel season. Busiest time of the year..."

It's Thanksgiving day, one of the most lightly-traveled days of the year. Nice try.

"There really wasn't much thought to it."

Well if that doesn't sum up your agency's philosophy, I don't know what does.

"It only makes sense to have our post with travel tips at the top. That's all..."

In the entire history of the TSA blog has a previously published post ever been bumped up before? And is it typical for a government employee to be working on Thanksgiving? No, nothing to see here at all...

---------I have taken a screen shot of this post, which is in complete compliance with your regulations.

The TSA Thanksgiving Travel Tips has been posted on 11/20/2009, 11/22/2010, 11/15/2011 and this year originally on 11/15/2012 not 11/22/2012. Not once has that information been re-posted to the actual holiday when most travel had already commenced.

Blogger Bob's claim that he moved this years post to 11/22/2012 from 11/15/2012 when it was originally posted certainly raises some questions as to motive.

Is it as Blogger Bob claims "It only makes sense to have our post with travel tips at the top" the real reason or is it the much more likely reason to help hide TSA's personal attack on Amy Aklon that was carried out by Blogger Bob using taxpayer funds, time and equipment for his attack?

I will let you the readers of this blog decide just how honest they think Blogger Bob really is.

By the way Bob, do TSA employees have to provide ID when requested?

Copy of this comment has been preserved for evidence in any First Amendment Civil Rights violation complaint.

Does a TSA Pat Down require a screener to rub peoples genitals. How can we complete the TSA Comment Card without the TSA employees name?===================================

Tuesday, November 20, 2012Here We Go Again... Amy Alkon

Here we go again… TSA seems to be a frequent and a convenient subject on Amy Alkon's blog. The writer’s language characterization towards TSA and our employees is offensive to say the least. Name calling, insults, the whole gamut...

In her latest screening incident, she’s angry because a supervisor wouldn’t give her the name of an officer who had just screened her. An officer who – by the way - by all accounts other than Ms. Alkon’s, did her job by the book. It is more likely that she wanted this information so she could post the officer’s name on her blog as she’s done before with other incidents. In fact, she named and publicly accused one of our officers of rape after a routine pat-down in an earlier allegation.

Ms. Alkon says all sorts of things in this post, but what Ms. Alkon doesn’t tell you is that from the moment she entered our checkpoint, she began making statements such as “TSA gets paid to molest passengers and touch their private areas.” Does that sound like somebody who wants to get through the checkpoint smoothly? No, it sounds like somebody who makes a living by agitating situations and writing about them.

Also missing in the details, Ms. Alkon wasn’t selected for a pat-down as she states in this post. She opted out of advanced imaging technology (body scanner). It’s acceptable to opt out, but the standard protocol when a passenger opts out is that they receive a pat-down not a free pass through security. If you read Amy’s comments, she knows this. As Ms. Alkon continued to make a scene, the checkpoint supervisor stated he would have to call airport police if she did not cooperate with the screening process.

We understand that not everybody likes or agrees with TSA’s policies and procedures. Part of what makes this country great is that we can openly complain on blogs such as this one, but I think it’s only fair that the blogger in question should be fair and accurate about what they write about and also consider the privacy of the individuals involved. After all, these individuals are doing the job the way they’ve been trained to do it. They show up to work daily with the intent of protecting our Nation’s transportation network.

I can assure you of one thing, an infinitesimal number of our employees know of Ms. Alkon. I can also assure you that reoccurring allegations like hers seem to be more self perpetuated rather than based upon reality and do nothing but detract from the mission at hand.

Bob BurnsTSA Blog Team

If you have a travel related issue or question that needs an immediate answer, you can contact us by clicking here.

The problem, Bob, is that you even wrote the Alkon post, not that you bumped it off the first page. You should instead be posting an apology and retraction for such a retaliatory and unprofessional post.

The recent GAO report in which it is stated that the TSA is improperly handling complaints, IOW complaints are being swept under the carpet:

"Customer Support Managers as well as all TSA screening personnel, including TSA screening supervisors and managers, report to FSDs, and are therefore in the same chain of command as the subjects of air passenger complaints. Because FSDs may be concerned about complaints reflecting negatively on their management of TSA screening operations, this raises questions about independence and the appearance of impartiality and their ability to conduct credible, unbiased investigations."

I've seen some chatter and conspiracy theories as to why I moved this post to the top

-----------------------------------Bob, the fact that you continue to ignore the questions regarding requirements for TSO's to identify themselves is all the American public needs to know about why the TSA does and doesn't do things.

TSOs have to wear a name tag. it contains their last name. Local airports may have a requirement for a SIDA badge as well if TSOs are in a SIDA area. That is the limit of the ID required at the TSO level. If you ask a Supervisor for a comment card to make a complaint, he should provide you with the last name of the TSO you are making the complaint about. STSOs do not need to nor are required to give you the TSOs first name. Most STSOs will do this with no problem as they also would like to see the bad apples removed. It makes their job easier in the long run.

Bob Burns (TSA Blog Team) said... I've seen some chatter and conspiracy theories as to why I moved this post to the top..........................

Yes move this post to the least busiest travel day of the year in an attempt to hide your personal attack on a citizen of the United States using your government position, government equipment, and our tax dollars to carry out the attack on Amy Aklon.

And the question remains.... are TSA Employees required to identify upon request?

When I am in uniform I am required and I even carry business cards with all the pertinent information so I don't have to try and spell my name.

It is such an easy thing to have a generic business card for an entire airport with a nice space for the employee to write in their name and badge number, which is required if anyone would like to file a comment.

@ Blogger Bob,Why did you approve this comment, which advocates violence against American citizens?

@ Anonymous,History does not look kindly upon bullies and collaborators.

Anonymous said..."I just want to get where I'm going. I don't care about civil rights, handicapped, age, weapons. Just move the line along so I can sit down in my seat and take off. These people that slow the line down aught to be punished severely. If enough people were publicly punished the rest of the public would get in line.November 24, 2012 6:22 PM"

A completely baseless lie. When I worked at PDX, about 75% of all customers going through the millimeter wave scanner had to be patted down on a local area due to spotted "anomalies". I have never seen one of these anomalies produce anything, security threat or otherwise. What a pointless, bloated organization.

May I suggest something - I was asked by a officer officer at JFK Terminal 4 recently after the metal screener, if I had a gun. I saw her colleague shaking her head so I knew that it was a joke, but knowing that this is a security situation, I had to take it seriously, so I said No. She repeated the question, causing me to feel distress - I certainly don't have a gun, and the woman didn't tell me anything more. I replied again NO. She repeated the same question and I was wondering if I should ask her where this is going. But knowing how strict the US officers are, I decided not to ask. She finally let me go and laughed and said that it was a joke.. A JOKE.

Please. Tell your officers that travelers going through day in day out are already stressed with all the process, and this is clearly an abuse of power. If they want respect, they need to treat their travelers with respect, and be serious about the situation. I have been distressed for the rest of my trip thanks to this "joke". It's unprofessional, and how can we ever take TSA seriously with this behavior? That's just provoking anger.

Pre-Check needs to be available every hour the regular lanes are open. Honestly I just came through Ohare and I walked to 3 different checkpoints and got 3 different answers why none of them were running a pre-check lane. All the time there were atleast 4-8 extra employees standing around chit-chatting. All over one of the most travelled upon weekends.

Once my bag clears the departure city TSA check and is sent to connecting/destination airport, do airline employee's such as baggage handlers or baggage operations have the right to open my checked baggage without TSA supervision (or must tsa only be allowed)? I believe a lot of theft is happening on part of airline employees

3-1-1 is a quick way to remember how the liquids policy works. Each passenger is allowed to take as many 3.4 ounce or less sized containers that will fit in one sealed clear quart-sized zip-top bag. I work in airport security and you would be suprised at how many people get this confused.

Chuck Long said..."3-1-1 is a quick way to remember how the liquids policy works. Each passenger is allowed to take as many 3.4 ounce or less sized containers that will fit in one sealed clear quart-sized zip-top bag. I work in airport security and you would be suprised at how many people get this confused."

Chuck,

How is my water/cola/whatever any less dangerous when it's divided into 3.4oz containers and placed into a 1qt baggie? Is the baggie bomb-proof?

I can’t believe it’s here already. I know I say that every year, but it seems like it gets here faster every year! TSA is fully staffed and prepared for the high volume of passengers this holiday season.richest singers in world